downing



(No Model.) S A. DOWNING. TIRE 'ESGAPB LADDER. N0.'29S.15s. Patented Feb. 5, 1-884.

WITNESSES: 1 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

rods D are linked.

-UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ARNOLD M. Downmc, OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,153, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed April 10, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD M. Downnge, of Oneida, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' My invention relates to that class of fire-escape ladders formed of a series of metal rods or bars linked to each other; and the object of my invention is to provide a ladder which can be folded very compactly, so as to occupy a minimum space.

The invention consists in a .folding ladder formed of a series of linked rods united at every second joint by a transverse rod or rung.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the box containing my improved fire-escape ladder, the box being shown in the position it has in relation to a window. Fig. 2is a longitudinal elevation of part of my improved ladder, showing it extended. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view of the same, showing it folded.

A box, A, provided with a downwardlyswinging door, B, is secured to the inner surface of the wall, directly under the windowsiil G, in which box one end of my improved folding ladderis secured, the folded ladder being contained in the box. The ladder is composed of a series of rods, D, linked to each other at the ends and forming the, sidev pieces of the ladder, which side pieces are united at, every second joint by a rung or rod, E, to the ends of which the eyes F are fixed, in which eyes F the eyes at the ends of the The transverse rods or rungs E are slightly longer than the rods D, so that the rungs will be separated a distance less than twice their length. The dimensions of the rods D and E are of importance, as

they facilitate folding the ladder very compactly. Then the ladder is folded, the rungs E E are parallel and the rods D are crossed between themthat is, the j oint uniting two rods D between the rungs E will be about between the ends of the rungs opposite those ends of the rungs to which the rungs are linked, as shown in Fig. 3. The ladder can thus be folded very compactly. For instance, a ladder one hundred feet long can be contained in a box eighteen inches long, eight inches wide, and four inches thick, and the ladder is folded in such a manner that it will notbecome entangled in removing it from the box. In case of an emergency the ladder can easily be thrown out of a window, and can then be used to descend upon safely.

If the ladder is to be made portable, it can be provided with grapples for fastening it.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to make a fire-escape of rods linked together and connected at each joint by-a rung; also, that a fire-escape ladder has been made of two chains connected at suitable intervals by rungs; but,

\Vhat I do claim as new and of my invention is 1. A folding ladder constructed of a series of rods, D, linked to each other, and united at every second joint by a transverse rod or rung, E, substantially as herein. shown and described, and for the purpose set-forth.

2. A folding ladder constructed of a series of rods, D, linked to each other, and united at every second joint by a transverse rod or rung, E, which. is slightly longer than a rod,

. D, substantially as herein shown and described,

and for the purpose set forth.

ARNOLD M. DOWXING.

\Vitnesses:

T..H. J URDEN,

C. STARK. 

